Arc for the River Valley gives members freedom to be themselves – Times Record

For some families in the River Valley, one organization is giving their loved ones the freedom and protection theyneed tohelp themliveauthentic lives.

The Arc for the River Valley, a local non-profit, providesadvocacy, educationand recreation for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the region serving more than 450 members.

Carolyn Scotts son, Scott Thomas, has been going to the Arc for over 20 years.

He is very personable, but he is 46 years old and one of the things that regular people who are not in thecommunitydont realize is that these guys need a social network,Scott said.They want to be able to talk to people freely and be able to have a special place to go.

For around 20 people a day, the Arc for the River Valley is that place, Executive Director Francy Ford said.

Membership to Arc for the River Valley costs $15 a year and gives participants access to activities including movie showings, bowling nights,cooking classes, art projects and holiday dances.

Its a little community of like-minded parents and children that can actually function in a social way, Scott said. A lot of people dont think about that when they think about a handicapped person, they dont realize how long the day can be when you dont have an outlet for them.

Thomas started visiting the Arc after the family moved to Fort Smith from Missouri.As he grew out of the publicschool system, he needed a place to be himself and be around others.

When a lot of people with disabilities are in school, they have their friends at school, when they finish up school that social contact is no longer there for them, Ford said.

Gerry McEvoys son Andrew attended the Arc regularly from around 15-21 years old.

While having a place for their loved ones to be around friends is important, their safety is vital.Both Scott and McEvoy talked about the importance of sending their children to a place where they are safe.

Hes one of the vulnerable people that have to be protected, McEvoy said. And the Arc is a place that does that.

Many people lose their understanding of those with disabilities as they grow older, Scott said.

The community is usually very understanding about small children, Scott said. They recognize when a child has Downs Syndrome or has some(type of) physical handicaps. People are usually pretty forgiving and pretty kind to small children. As a disabled person gets older theres less sympathy, less understanding, although mentally and emotionally these individuals have not aged like we do.

At the Arc for the River Valley they understand, they accommodate and they facilitate to fit the needs of their members, McEvoy said.

Theyre still 3 years old although theyre in a 20-year-old body, Scott said. There needs to be an environment where they can be safe and be who they are.

Although his son is no longer a regular at the facility, McEvoy talked about how it gave Andrew something to look forward to and how happy it made him.

Over the summer, Andrew attended a swim outing to the Alma Aquatic Park.

Those outings are rare and special. We need more of those for that population, McEvoy said. Otherwise, theyre mostlycontained to the family setting and its so beneficial that they get things to look forward to, whether it be bowling or swimming or the events that the Arc puts on.

The Arc for the River Valley has been active for over 60 years and its mission of advocacy, education and recreation remains the same.

For the family, it gives them time for these folks to be as independent as possible, Ford said. That really what its all about. The movies we select, the art that we do, how we talk to them theyre adults, theyre not kids.

Abbi Ross is the city reporter at the Southwest Times Record.She can be reached at aross@swtimes or on Twitter at @__AbbiRoss

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Arc for the River Valley gives members freedom to be themselves - Times Record